Jo's Site

whether to cry, or go back to drugs and alcohol.

On the 19th, I bought a 16G Verbatim flash drive.  My computer wouldn't read it. Talked to one of the techs at my ISP who couldn't help but opined that I might not want to store on 16gigs.  In case of sudden death, I would loose 16Gs of info.  Returned the 16G and bought two 4G SanDisk drives.  They would not read either.  Nor could my computer find the drivers, the software.  Nada. 

Called Dell.  Now, keep in mind that I paid $200 something for 4 special sessions in which Dell promised not to stop trying to solve whatever the problem might be until it was fixed. 

Also keep in mind that I've been working on computers since 1975 and have been offered jobs as a tech by my ISP.  Three times.  So I'm not a complete nu-nu when it comes to hardware/software.

Despite my opinion to the contrary, the Dell Tech decided that the problem was that my web camera had been disabled.  I know it's disabled.  I did it.  I don't *want* my web camera working.  He connected it anyway.  Flash drives are still not reading.

Had to wait until Tuesday to take the flash drives to the library and see if they are good.  They are.  They worked right away.  Meanwhile, Dell is calling both my phones at least twice a day to find out if my problem has been solved. 

Wednesday I tried with Dell.  Again.  No joy.  There is, however, now a red "x" on the Norton icon.  An hour on the phone with Norton did nothing constructive, except to hear their tech say, "it's your OS."  I knew *that* when I called Norton.  Red "x" still on the icon.  Updated Windows.  Updated drivers.  No joy.  Went to SanDisk site to download their drivers.  After 30+mins of less fun than I would have liked, SanDisk said I didn't *need* drivers for their disks.  Did online SanDisk support.  Another hour shot.  Same opinion. 

I have lost track of how many Dell techs I've dealt with - I really only remember clearly the one who hung up on me.  The Sunday tech uninstalled and reinstalled all my drivers (this was about the 4th time that's been done.)  No joy.  But!  Now instead of just the two new flash drives not working, NONE of the USB ports work.  That means, no camera downloading, no DVD/CD playing, programs I run from flash drives aren't available.  Printer would not.  Nor scan nor copy. 

Called right back to Dell to get a message to the Sunday tech who had said he would research the matter and talk to me again on Monday. 

New tech said he would add my message to the history of the call but! he knew how to fix the problem.  Oh?  Really?  Oh yes, ma'am, very clear:  computer needs a new mother board.  Fortunately covered under warranty.  Ok.  Whatever.

Yesterday, a hardware only tech showed up with the mother board.  Much to-do.  No joy.  Still nothing works from the USB port.  He was so frustrated he tried to help with the software.  No joy.

This morning called my ISP and talked to *their* tech.  No joy there either.  Other than, he thinks there's something wrong in the OS.  Really?  Hadn't heard *that* before.  Snark.

So I defragged.  Again.  I downloaded Malwarebytes and ran the detailed, file-by-file, diagnostic.  No viruses.  No Trojan Horses.  The computer is as clean as could be.  Restored the system.  No joy.  Then realized:  erk!  One of the techs had already restored to April 20, so deleted that restoration and re-restored the system to April 19, and some joy:  the already used flash drives work, I downloaded from the camera and have great hopes that the DVD player will work.

In the middle of the afternoon, mid-nap, my computer came on (it was on stand-by) and lots of pages from the Dell website loaded.  They were no help but they woke me up, fanned all my paranoiac tendencies (still don't know how that happened - no sign that Dell was controlling the computer), and added to my already high frustration level.

So I've had it.  At least for a couple days.  Over the weekend, I'll prepare myself and contact Dell again.  Those two new flash drives are good/operable and I need them for a project I want to be working on.  I am determined:  these new flash drives *will* work on my computer! 

There really *is* something wrong with the OS, I just cannot find it.  And so far neither has anyone else which makes me feel better in a negative kinda way.

I am trying to look on these past days since the 19th as a master's course in patience.  It's not helping.

It's a rabbit named Homer!

Paul moved in over the last few days and Friday night I saw TWO cages on his balcony.  My immediate assumption was that they were bird cages and that the peace and quiet of my cul-de-sac was about to be lost to the squawking of birds -- parrots, whatever. 

Then I realized:  I was doing *exactly* what my neighbors do -- getting my exercise by leaping to conclusions.  Decided to wait and see what appeared in the cages and if birds, and if noisy, as they *all* are (ahem) (at least the ones neighbors here have had), Paul seems like a reasonable guy and I could talk to him about the problem and we could probably work out a mutually-acceptable solution (like keeping them covered until 8a or so)

This morning, there was movement in the cage -- I looked!  WHAT?!  A rabbit!  Yes!  Rabbits are quiet.  Besides I like rabbits - don't know if I'm allergic to them, but I like them.  Just then Paul came out to the edge where we could see each other and he said the rabbit's name is Homer. 

Tried to get Homer to pose for me but this was the best I could get so far.  He seemed to be trying to hide behind his turquoise container.

But it's not birds!  Yes!

So for families, where Group meetings aren't excuse enough, how about:  Work?  As in "'Work' just called and I have to go in - big project - lots of hours - can't get out of it - wouldn't want to get fired!"

When I worked for attorneys I used variations on that theme a lot -- either getting ready to take a client public, working on a major merger or getting ready for trial.  When asked for details, I just shook my head and said, "can't talk about it - client confidentiality you know".

Ideas?

Am realizing more and more that I really don't care to be involved with groups.  I enjoy talking with one other person, maybe two, but groups?  Not so much.  And especially when someone wants to ORGANIZE  -- membership lists, regular meetings, newsletters, emails yada yada yada.

So have formed My Group.  There are no meetings, and no one would come it there were.  No newsletters.  No emails.  No Tweets.  No FaceBook page. The purpose?  When someone asks if one would like to attend such-and-such a meeting of whatever group, one learns the date/time of the meeting and then can say, "Oh, I'm sorry.  That's when My Group meets.  Can't make it."

Requirements for membership are very loose - the only real consideration is that one has to keep the details of My Group on the down-low -- if people find out the details then the purpose of My Group is shot.  And I'll have to think of something else.

When questioned, though, one needs to be able to be fairly vague - I think it would be possible to borrow from one of the 12 step programs and get all quiet and talk about anonymity.

There are already two of us.  With possible others.  And I used it just this afternoon.  Y'all are welcome to join or form My Groups in your area.     

And from one of my neighbors no less!

I have a framed piece of cross-stitch on my hall door - one for each month.  It includes the name of the month and designs appropriate thereto.  Like April has bunnies, Easter eggs and a couple flowers. 

This woman (whose name I don't know - she's told me and I don't remember :() lives on the first floor and comes up here to do her laundry (since 1st floor doesn't have laundry rooms).  She likes our laundry room because it's most always clean and neat (Ahem.  Not that I go over and tidy up after folks or anything like that, and pull recycleables out of the trash.  Cough, cough.  The cleaning lady only comes by once a day, so I help out).

So she said she really likes my door decoration and after I thanked her she said, "It makes it look like the person who lives there really cares."

Ahhhhhh.  Shucks!

Wasn't that nice?